WICHITA, Kansas – Squaring off in the NBC World Series championship game against Seattle, Santa Barbara won the title 3-2 in 12 innings on Saturday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. It’s the fifth NBC championship overall for the Foresters since 2006.

Santa Barbara’s Granger Studdard drove in Ford Stainback with the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th.
The Foresters have now won all three of their title games vs. Seattle, including victories in 2008 and 2012.

During coach Bill Pintard’s postgame victory speech, he thanked his family, community and the fans. The win also had extra meaning. With his mother passing away a week earlier he said, “On the way out here, I asked my father should I get off this bus. He said yes, and win it for Kaye!”

Developing several standouts in summer collegiate baseball over the years, at least forty Santa Barbara Foresters have made it to the big leagues including pitcher James Shields with the Kansas City Royals.

Pintard’s son Eric, who also played for Santa Barbara passed away several years ago, but his memory lives on. The longtime coach told KSN, “My son was diagnosed with cancer in 1993. He got the Most Inspirational Award here from (columnist) Bob Lutz at the NBC World Series and the award is still given out in his honor.”

Along with coaching Santa Barbara, Pintard has started a foundation through the Foresters organization in memory of his son called “Hugs for Cubs.” It’s a support program for childhood cancer survivors. Pintard says, “Before Eric died, he realized he could be an inspiration and so we started visiting St. Francis hospital on our trips here-now it’s Via Christi hospital. We make it an annual visit every year and spend about three hours with the kids. Each year we take a young cancer victim/survivor and we put his initials on the back of our hats. They become the main focus for our love and prayers.”

Pintard’s had a major impact on and off the field. Celebrating two decades with the Foresters, he recently captured his 800th career victory. He’s believed to be the all-time winningest coach in summer collegiate baseball history.

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